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Leg break rules out Ashleigh Sykes

Rapid striker Ashleigh Sykes has been ruled out until after Christmas after discovering that she has suffered a fractured fibula following a challenge sustained in the match against Melbourne Victory.

Rapid striker Ashleigh Sykes has been ruled out until after Christmas after discovering that she has suffered a fractured fibula following a challenge sustained in the match against Melbourne Victory.

Sykes was on the end of a hefty challenge from a Victory defender midway through the second half of the teams- 1-1 draw at McKellar Park a fortnight ago. The extent of the injury came as somewhat of a shock for the Dubbo youngster who has been plagued by bad luck this season.

“I got a kick in the Melbourne game and initially I thought it was just a cork but after I went for a scan we found that it was a fractured right fibula. I don-t need an operation as the bone hasn-t moved so I-ll just be resting and waiting for it to heal and try and build my other fitness up in the meantime,” Ashleigh revealed.

“As we originally thought it was no more than a cork we assumed that it would start breaking up in training this week, but after I tried to run on it and kick a ball it was still hurting so we decided to go for the x-ray and it showed the fracture.”

This is the second injury that the unlucky Sykes- has picked up this season after suffering a knock to the ankle in the 3-0 pre-season victory over the Illawarra Stingrays, a problem serious enough to rule her out of contention for the opening match of the season. This latest setback continues a frustrating start to the campaign for the forward.

“It-s really disappointing as I was just getting back into the swing of things, enjoying training and playing and this is a pretty big blow, but I-ll recover and move on from here,” she commented.

Ironically, just as Ashleigh is ruled out for a number of matches, her twin sister Nicole has recovered from her own broken bone to be available for selection for the match with Adelaide United this weekend. As much as the injury is paining Ashleigh she couldn-t help but see the funny side of both her and Nicole-s injured limbs.

“Perhaps moving away from home our mum hasn-t been able to monitor the amount of milk we drink so maybe we are suffering from a calcium deficiency!” she joked.

Canberra United face Adelaide United in Week Five of the Westfield W-League at Deakin Stadium, Grose Street, Deakin with kick off at 5pm. Tickets are available from the gate on match day priced at $10 adults, $5 concessions with children under-12 admitted free.